View from the Observation Tower on Californie Plateau, Chemin des Dames, France.
"The second event was the escape of three French prisoners-of-war from their camp not far behind the German lines, as a result of the massive reorganization of life there consequent upon the preparations for the attack. They reached the British lines just before dawn on May 25th, where they were admitted, fed, and closely questioned upon the conditions existing on the far side of the Ailette. Any doubts still existing in the minds of those conducting the interrogations as to the precariousness of their position were quickly dispelled, and a strongly worded report was forwarded to Sixth Army Headquarters.But Duchesne's reply read coldly: 'In our opinion there are no indications that the enemy has made preparations which would enable him to attack tomorrow' . . ."
German forces were preparing what would prove to be a devastating attack on the Allied line, the Aisne (Blücher) Offensive, the third of five drives to victory in 1918. The first event our author, Barrie Pitt, refers to had two parts: the first that American intelligence officers had recognized that an attack on the Chemin des Dames, which is south of the Ailette River, was imminent, and the second that the Chief of French intelligence came to believe they were correct. French General Denis Auguste Duchêne, who had already failed to follow General Henri Philippe Pétain's order to strengthen and restructure his line, would have none of it. Duchêne was correct to the extent that the former prisoners provided their information on May 25, 1918, and the attack took place on the 27th, not his 'tomorrow'. Four British divisions that had been devastated in Operations Michael and Georgette in March and April had been moved into what was expected to be a quiet sector held by the French.
1918, the Last Act by Barrie Pitt, page 145, copyright © 1962 by Barrie Pitt, publisher: Ballantine Books, Inc., publication date: 1963
1918-05-25, 1918, May, Denis Auguste Duchesne, Denis Auguste Duchêne, Denis Duchesne, Denis Duchêne, Duchesne, Duchêne, Observation Tower on Californie Plateau, Chemin des Dames, Californie Plateau
